Elisabeth Warner Blatchley went to her heavenly home on Feb. 14, 2023, personally delivering husband, Edward, his valentine.
Bettye was born in Greenwood, South Carolina on March 10, 1927, to our adoring grandparents Elmer C. Warner, a proper southern farmer, and Louise M. Warner, the consummate homemaker and Sunday School teacher. Bettye was the youngest of three siblings, each a unique, strong and bright spirit. The entire Warner family and the family farm played major roles throughout our lives. Each of us, on warm summer vacation nights, has been serenaded to sleep by the whippoorwills in the woods surrounding that magical home.
After an idyllic childhood living, loving and learning on the family farm outside Ninety Six, South Carolina, Bettye entered Lander College in the fall of 1943 where she studied business, including such long forgotten skills as Gregg shorthand. There she met Edward C. Blatchley, a yankee training at nearby Camp Croft, on a blind date during which the pair “enjoyed” a Sunday college dinner at the Dean’s table. Following her graduation and dad’s WWII service in Europe, they were married on June 5, 1946, in Florence, South Carolina.
The ensuing 60 years proved a full and happy adventure joined along the way by four wonderful children, their own incredible families and a passel of dear friends and relations. Travel was Bettye’s passion and the seven years she and Ed lived and worked in Izmir, Turkey was a joyous highlight of her life. So many amazing stories have sprung from their adventures there!
Bettye put her business skills, keen sense of fair play and innate Southern charm to work in the real estate trade with great success, personal satisfaction and joy. The culmination of her career was Bettye’s selection as Delaware Realtor of the Year. Among her many volunteer involvements, her membership in P.E.O. figured prominently. Bettye was fully committed to the advancement and education of women locally, nationally, and internationally and was honored to serve as president of Chapter J.
Bettye’s church home was and is St. John’s United Methodist Church in Seaford. Her family thanks the beautiful people of St. John’s for 55 years of love and support in the good times and through the trials of a lifetime.
Our mother lived her 95+ years largely on her terms, including the years following dad’s passing when she was bound and determined to stay in her house. Through strenuous exertions of her iron will she did exactly that.
Bettye’s children, Connie Short (Charlotte, NC), Peter Blatchley (Monument, CO), Elisabeth Ruckert (Victor, NY) and Bruce Blatchley (Port Hadlock, WA) will endeavor mightily to keep her beautiful spirit blazing in the years ahead.
While Bettye loved gardening and had quite the green thumb, we suggest that in lieu of sending flowers, you contribute to the charity of your choice in her name.